Period of engravings Magdalénien III-IV (≈ 3)
Estimated dating of rock works.
3 octobre 1981
Discovery of engravings
Discovery of engravings 3 octobre 1981 (≈ 1981)
André Ipiens identifies paleolithic works.
8 juin 1994
Registration MH
Registration MH 8 juin 1994 (≈ 1994)
Classification as historical monuments.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Parcel C 508: inscription by order of 8 June 1994
Key figures
André Ipiens - Discoverer and researcher
Identified and studied engravings in 1981.
Michel Lorblanchet - Specialist in parietal art
Analysed the prints with Ipiens.
Origin and history
The Bigourdane Cave is a prehistoric cave in the Lot department, in the commune of Saint-Géry-Vers (now Saint Géry-Vers). Drained in the limestone cliffs overlooking the right bank of the Lot, it consists of a unique room 30 meters long by 10 wide, on the sloped ground. This site belongs to the municipality and is not open to the visit.
The paleolithic engravings of the cave were discovered on 3 October 1981 by André Ipiens. Two separate panels adorn the walls: the first, 1 metre from the ground, represents two deer (an adult reindeer and a young) head-to-be, while the second, 2.20 metres away, shows an isolated reindeer. These works, attributed to Magdalenian III-IV, were studied by Michel Lorblanchet and André Ipiens, and stylized with those of the cave of Sainte-Eulalie.
The site was listed as historic monuments on June 8, 1994, recognizing its heritage value. The research published, notably in the Bulletin of the Lot Studies Society (1982) and Gallia prehistory (1983), underscores its importance for the understanding of regional parietal art. However, the cave remains closed to the public, preserving its archaeological integrity.
